Chena Hot Springs at -4F

We had another amazing experience yesterday. About 50 miles east of Fairbanks there is a spot called Chena Hot Springs where Monument Creek flows (when thawed) into the Chena River. As we drove up into the Chena Hills the temperature dropped from 6F (above zero) to -4F. The wind started blowing, so the wind chill must have been around -40F below!

Clear, hot mineral water bubbles up from springs deep below the ground, heated by geothermal energy. The average year-round temperature of the water is 110F. This place was "discovered" in 1905, and became famous for curing crippled gold miners of aches and pains.

We changed from our heavy-weight parkas and long underwear into our bathing suits. Then we walked down a snowy ramp in our bare feet into the warm water. This image you see here is from a website I found - http://www12.virtualtourist.com/m/2e7ff/b42cf/. When we were there, the wind was blowing so fiercely, the steam coming off the water was so thick, that we could not possibly take any pictures. Our frozen bodies warmed up quickly in the hot spring water. Our heads were still out in the cold air, however. You will never believe what we looked like and felt in a few minutes. We could not see each other in the steam, except when the wind blew a clear space now and then. Our eyelashes and eyebrows started to frost up. Our hair frosted up. My nephew, Jacob, fashioned his hair in a Mohawk style, that completely frosted up. Everyone soon looked like old men and old women winter. Each strand of hair became coated with ice. It was crazy! Everyone said my head looked like a big white KOOSH ball! Since we could not take photos, here is a link to a photo that was previously taken of another Alaskan guy that my sister knows: - http://www.accentalaska.com/permenant/hotsprings/

We soaked in the wonderful waters. Terry said his sore shoulder was feeling better! But then, there was the problem of when and how we wanted to brave those -4F temperatures and winds to get out to go back into the poolhouse! I floated over to and up the ramp to keep my body in the warm water for as long as possible. Then I slipped and slid over to pick up my terry cloth robe. It was covered with frost! I moved as quickly as I could with my bare feet up the icy ramp. My hair stayed frozen still for about 5 more minutes inside the building. Cool!